– Recognition at the highest level that some health problems can sometimes be addressed through non-medical solutions –
Birmingham, 29 January 2019.
Health Creation Alliance today welcomed NHS England’s commitment to employ 1000 additional Social Prescribers as an important step for the NHS. It demonstrates a recognition at the highest level that some health problems can be addressed through non-medical solutions.
However, Health Creation Alliance calls on NHS England to go much further and recognise the health benefits that come when people and communities are helped to solve their own problems. Health Creation is a tried and tested approach to enabling this. It comes about when professionals and people work together as equal partners and focus on what matters to people and the community.
Commenting on the NHS England announcement, Merron Simpson, CEO, said, “While welcome, there’s a danger that social prescribing could become just another part of our current transactional health service, with referrals into existing services alone. Tailored care must go hand-in-hand with people and community-led and informed solutions, cross-sector working and asset-based approaches that increase the level of meaningful connections between people and lead to increased confidence and control over their lives”.
“Health Creation Alliance is ready to work with general practices to ensure that their approaches to social prescribing lead to lasting improvements in the health of people and communities, particularly those where the impact of health inequalities is greatest”.
For more information, please contact Neil McGregor-Paterson, neil@realitasconsulting.co.uk 0777 136 1783
